Washington, D.C. — Born Free USA, a global leader in animal welfare and wildlife conservation, is calling upon authorities to carry out a thorough investigation into the treatment of a tiger, bobcat, and two wolves during a photo shoot yesterday by photographer David Yarrow at Detroit’s Packard Plant, which resulted in the tiger escaping. According to reports, Yarrow booked the disused car manufacturing plant for the photo shoot but failed to tell landlords that he planned to bring wild animals on site. When authorities learned about the situation, it was reported that the shoot was closed down, but not before the tiger escaped in the industrial building. Eventually, the tiger was recaptured safely.[teaserbreak]
It is unclear from reports where the animals’ handlers, reportedly from the company “Animals” based in Montana, were during the escape as the security guard for the site allegedly called his friend to come and deal with the situation. Footage released by the man called to help capture the tiger showed him brandishing a garden trimmer at the tiger to scare him away.
According to Adam M. Roberts, CEO of Born Free USA and the Born Free Foundation, “We need answers about this whole debacle, which could have easily led to serious injury or death for both humans and animals. The use of animals in this way not only compromises the welfare of the animals themselves, but also creates extremely dangerous situations for the people around them—especially the men we see in an online video hiding under a tarp, and brandishing a power tool in the tiger’s face. That this did not end in tragedy is beyond lucky. Wild animals belong in the wild, not as photo shoot props inside of a building.”
Yarrow is known for his work championing endangered wildlife, but Born Free USA is seriously concerned about the portrayal of wild animals in the media, which can create a warped public understanding of the threats these animals face in the wild. Roberts explains, “We know that Mr. Yarrow is committed to the conservation of wildlife, but we firmly believe that the use of captive wild animals in the media—photography, television, film—undermines that position. We hope that this photographer—and all of those in the media industry—will choose to focus on subjects that do not infringe upon animal welfare, conservation, or public safety in the future.”
It is unclear as of now how these animals were acquired, and which permits, if any, Yarrow possessed. It is illegal in Michigan for a private individual to own a large carnivore, and it is further illegal for large carnivores to be allowed to run at-large. Michigan statute requires them to be kept in a facility that “is sufficiently secure to prevent the large carnivore’s escape,” among other safety requirements. These laws exist to protect citizens from the very negligence that was displayed yesterday at the photo shoot.
Born Free USA is a global leader in animal welfare and wildlife conservation. Through litigation, legislation, and public education, Born Free USA leads vital campaigns against animals in entertainment, exotic “pets,” trapping and fur, and the destructive international wildlife trade. Born Free USA brings to North America the message of “compassionate conservation”—the vision of the United Kingdom-based Born Free Foundation, established in 1984 by Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna, stars of the iconic film Born Free, along with their son, Will Travers. Born Free’s mission is to end suffering of wild animals in captivity, conserve threatened and endangered species, and encourage compassionate conservation globally. More at www.bornfreeusa.org; www.twitter.com/bornfreeusa; and www.facebook.com/bornfreeusa.
Media Contact: Rodi Rosensweig, 203/270-8929, TheRodiCompany@gmail.com